A Trip to Talons

Once inside Talons, and back on the floor, Dani sat at a table with a rum punch in front of her. The only type of alcohol she'd ever really had before now was wine, so now that she was trying something a bit harder, the young woman was going to have to pace herself. Lifting the glass to her lips, she took a small sip, wincing as the alcohol burned its way down her throat. "Holy..." she covered her mouth and coughed. "That's definitely strong."

"Watch yourself, Dani," he said. "That's not wine. And neither is this." He held up his glass of Liquid Latinum and took a drink. "Ahh, yeah, definitely not a Chardonnay. But not too bad for a change." He scooted his chair over next to hers.

"No, it's not," she said, her voice a bit hoarse from coughing. "But after what just happened, and the possibility of being tossed into the brig for striking a senior officer... I think I've earned it."

"You've earned whatever your heart desires, as far as I'm concerned. You and your spider monkey reaction to that mountain of man," replied Terry. "But that's no concern of yours. I'll handle that in the gym eventually. All you have to do is trust me and enjoy that rum punch. That's what I'm here to do, enjoy some drinks. Well, that and the view," he added, staring into her eyes. "You're the most beautiful woman in the galaxy."

Dani blushed. "There you go being all sweet again. I like it, though." She leaned forward and pressed a hand against his cheek. "It works out, though... me being the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, because you just so happen to be the most handsome man in the galaxy."

Terry smiled, and then more so as she touched his cheek. "Aw, being all sweet is easy to do around you." He reached up and placed his hand over hers, holding it there for a second. Then he grasped it and brought it down to the table, still holding her fingers and rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "Rum punch, huh? Based on that cough, you haven't had much of it it the past, have you?"

"This is the first time for me," she admitted a little on the shy side. There weren't many people over the legal drinking age that could admit they'd never tasted hard liquor before. "I think after this drink, you may end up having to carry me home, too." And she didn't even realize she referred to his quarters as home.

Terry released her hand and picked up his glass, taking a drink. "It's okay, hon. Nothing to be worried about. There's always a first time for everything. So, just after that one drink or are you planning to have another? I mean, either way, I'd be happy to carry you...home." He'd used her wording simply because he was used to calling his place home. But the delay came when it hit him that it was her wording. Terry wasn't going to say anything. He was just glad that they both were that comfortable with each other.

"Let's see how I feel after the first one," Dani replied, taking another sip with a smile before she got to her feet. The burn was still there, but it wasn't as bad as the first drink she had. "Come in, big, bald and sexy... let's dance."

"Gotcha," said Terry. He watched her stand up and took a big gulp of his Liquid Latinum. "Alright, that sounds like fun." He got up and walked to her side, placing his arm around her waist. "Lead the way...perfect, hot, and sexier."

"Right here is as good a spot as any," she said, looking around. Talons wasn't empty, but it wasn't packed, either. Not that she'd care if it were. "If I was just a bit taller, I'd twirl you."

"Is that so?" he said. "I think I'd like to see that. We may have to find a way to make you taller just for that." He grinned down at his beautiful blonde. Stepping a little closer, he said, "So what kind of dance did you have in mind, sweetheart?"

"Whatever you feel like," she answered, knowing their size difference would limit most types unless they got very creative. "I'm okay with some slow dancing."

"Slow dancing it is," said Terry. He moved up and put one hand around her back. "Shall we ask the computer to play some music quietly or just listen to tune in our hearts?" He leaned down and moved a lock of her blonde hair from her face and placed it behind her ear before kissing her forehead.

Dani smiled up at him. "I rather like the idea of listening to the tune of our hearts," she replied, bringing her hands to rest on his shoulders. Things may have started off rather badly, but for her, they were definitely beginning to turn around.

"Yeah, me too, Angel." Terry started to sway and began to move. He put his other hand behind her back and stared into her eyes. She was beautiful and fun and so much more.

Dani smiled and began to move with him as a blush began to creep to her cheeks. She couldn't get enough of the big, bald man standing in front of her. It still amazed her that he was hers. No one else's, but hers. The petite woman would never take a second of their time for granted, or him, for that matter. "This is a good way to end the night, you know."

He continued dancing, listening to music that only the two of them could hear. It was like back on shore leave, only better. "It really is," he said. "Of course, any night I can end with you is a good night." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

"See..." Dani began softly. "You saying things like that happens to be only one of the many reasons why I love you."

"One of the many reasons, huh," Terry said. "What are some of the others, Angel?"

Dani smiled. She knew that question was coming, and had prepared herself to answer. "Where do I start?" the young woman asked in return. "I love you for the way you make me feel, the way you make me smile... blush, the way you look at me... respect me... accept me. My list could go on and on. But most of all... I love you for being you. All of you."

Terry pulled her in for a hug. "I love you too, Dani. You've been so good to, and for, me. I honestly don't know where I'd be mentally and emotionally right now if I didn't have you to talk to. Chances are though, I'd be pulling a double shift on the Flight Deck. Jumping into work." He began slowing down their slow dance a little more. "Let's go work on our drinks some more. Maybe get a bite to eat. What are you hungry for?"

"Definitely pizza," she said, slipping her hand into his with a smile. "What do you feel like?"

"Being with you," he replied with a smile. "But if you're talking about food, pizza sounds good. What do you like on it?" he asked, pulling out her chair. "I'll go put the order in." She was wonderful. And he was enjoying spending every minute he could with her.

"You know me... I'll try anything once. Except anchovies. Let's not have any of those," the little woman said, unable to keep herself from giving a full body shiver at the thought. "But before you go... I feel like being with you, too. You've completed parts of me that I didn't know were even missing."

"No anchovies, no problem," he said. Then he put his hand on the back of her head and ran it down her hair, patting her between the shoulders. "I'm glad I could fill those spots. Maybe when I fill all all of the pieces and you fill all of mine, we can take a step back and get a good look at the whole picture." He leaned down and kissed the top her head. "I'll be right back."

"And I'll be right here," Dani said as she settled back down with a smile. She watched Terry walk away, wondering what great deed she'd done in life to be gifted with such a wonderful man. Every second the young woman had with him was just as special as the last, and Dani knew that no matter what happened, she would be able to get through anything with him by her side.

Terry walked up to the counter and put in their order for a medium sized supreme pizza, making sure to request no anchovies. He asked for some extra black olives on half, though. Terry liked his black olives. He also ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, twenty-three eighty-five vintage, Napa Valley and two glasses. The bottle of wine was replicated since getting something that specific would be difficult. But nonetheless, it was wine.

He carried it all back, grinning at his blonde beauty. "Mon Ange, une bouteille de Cabernet Sauvignon." The universal translator let it be known that Terry had said, My Angel, a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Then he continued in Standard as he poured her a glass. "A full-bodied red wine full of mystery for a full-bodied mystery." Yeah, it was a big step for him. So much so, he was worried that it might be taken wrong. He poured himself a glass and sat down.

The petite woman smiled over at him as she picked up her wine glass. This was more her speed, and Dani was more than happy to trade in her cocktail for the wine. "Why, thank you, Terry Bear," she said before taking a small sip. "The wine is something I can definitely get behind. You think I'm a mystery?"

"I think the parts of you that I don't know about yet are a mystery," Terry said. "That's a small part of what keeps things interesting. At least, that's what my mom always told my dad." He set aside the little bit of Liquid Latinum that he had left and took a drink of the wine. "What about me?"

"There are things I'd like to know, but as you've told me in the past, when the time is right," she replied, reaching out she slip her hand over his.

He smiled and looked at their hands. "Angel, we've made the 'I love you' step. I think I at least owe you a couple questions. Go ahead, hon."

Dani looked hesitant for a few moments, but he'd just given her permission to ask. With a deep breath, she turned her attention to him. "When we first met, you seemed to be quite troubled. So much so that you would take long walks around the ship. Why? What happened?"

"On a shore leave, I unknowingly contracted a deadly virus," began Terry. "Near it's end-stage, it caused hallucinations. I was laid up in Sickbay for a while." He paused and took both of her hands in his. "I was hearing voices and carrying on conversations with them, Dani. It was so real." He went to explain how they told him things and encouraged him and so on. He talked briefly about a former lover visiting him finally and how the voices in his head grew louder and he had to scream at them. "Then..., this goes back to the Dominion War when I lost my best friend and battle buddy Mark Shelby, I thought it was back then. I just knew I was a Captain in the Starfleet Marine Corp and had been captured by the Jem'Hadar. Sickbay looked different, everyone there was Jem'Hadar. I grabbed a tool and tried to escape. The former Security Chief and one of her officers talked me down. But only after I broke. I thought they had turned me into one of them, into a Jem'Hadar." He then went on to explain how Camila had used his record, including his father's passing, to bring him back to reality.

"Then I started walking the ship," he said. "There's a whole lot more to it, but that's the condensed version. Maybe tonight, I'll tell you the whole lot of it. Background and everything. Might actually do me some good. And you'd get to know a little more of Terry Walsh."

Dani listened as he spoke, her heart breaking for him more and more with each word he spoke. She heard about the virus that plagued the crew before she came aboard, but had no idea he fell victim to it like so many others. Of course, he was one of the lucky ones that managed to survive it. Then again, maybe lucky wasn't the right word. He still dealt with the aftermath, and maybe even a little survivor's guilt... with everything.

She gave his hands a gentle squeeze, only speaking when he was finished. "I had no idea," she said softly, reaching out to place her hand against the side of his cheek. "I can't even begin to imagine what any of that must have been like for you. If you do find yourself needing to talk about it, and I mean ever, you know you can talk to me."

Her gentle touch. Her soft hands. Her quiet voice. Her understanding tone. She was more than he could have ever hoped for in a girlfriend. "Thanks, Daniella. I think I'll you up on that offer later." He smiled and returned her gentle squeeze. But for now, I just wanna enjoy those beautiful Angel eyes." He winked.

She couldn't help but blush. Despite everything he'd been through, Terry hadn't lost his ability to be so sweet and loving... both things she would cherish for the rest of her life if she happened to be lucky enough. "And I am definitely okay with you doing that, Terry Bear. For as long as you want to."

"Babe," he found himself saying...what was it about her that made him so relaxed... "I'm human, not El-Aurian."

"Then, how about the rest of our lives?" Dani asked softly.

"That's certainly an option," he said. "It would take me that long to get to know every little thing about you. Everything you like and don't like. And you know what, I like that idea. Getting to know everything about you. Let's start tonight. Finish that drink, sweetheart, and I'll carry you all the way back. How's that sound, Angel?"

"I like the way that sounds," she answered with a smile as she leaned in to kiss him. "And don't think I'm going to complain for a single second, either."

Terry smiled and took a long drink of his wine. "Alright then. It's a plan. And we'll take the bottle. No sense in it going back. So, sitting on my shoulders, tossed over my shoulder, or cradled?"

"Any way you want," the petite woman replied with a smile. "And I really like the way you think. Why don't we get our pizza to go... grab our wine, then head back to your place where we don't have an audience?" Not that there were really a lot of people present to begin with.

Terry winked at his Angel. "I'll keep that in mind." He threw back what wine he had in his glass and corked the bottle. "Okay," he said, "finish up, 'cause you and I both are gonna go get the pizza...sort of." He moved to stand closer to Dani so that when she stood, he could pick her up.

Dani finished off the wine in her own glass and grabbed the now corked wine bottle before she got to her feet. She braced herself for what she knew was coming and grinned. "I knew what that 'sort of' meant."

Terry took the wine bottle from Dani. "You're going to need both hands to carry the pizza and to balance yourself." Then he leaned over, putting the bottle on the table for a second, and picked Dani up. The big man had never been playful like this in public before and it felt good. He gently bounced her on his left shoulder until she felt balanced and then picked up the bottle of wine. "Okay, off to the bar!"

Terry turned around and walked over to where the wide-eyed man was standing behind the counter. "We'll take our pizza to go," he said. And then spun around so Dani was facing him. "She'll carry it."

Dani grinned at the wide-eyed man and held her hands out for the pizza. "I'll take the pizza," she said, offering him a smile when hr handed it over. After thanking him, the small woman gave a giggle. "We're all set to go now. Lead the way, Terry Bear."

She giggled. And he grinned. "Understood, Captain," he said, in his best imitation of a helmsman. "Engaging maneuvering thrusters." He walked between the tables and out the door. Once in the corridor, he started for the nearest turbolift that would take them to his quarters. The Lieutenant Commander simply nodded and smiled at the passers-by. "How's the view back there?" he asked.

"The view is the best anywhere in space," she answered with a smile. Temptation was staring her right in the face, but she was keeping her hands to herself. At least until they were back in his quarters. "It's a good thing I'm holding a pizza, too, or I'd be getting handsy."

Terry laughed loudly. "Well, when we get back, you can put the pizza down on the table and go hands-free all you want...before I put you down." He turned his head slightly to the left. "And my view is simply outstanding, Angel. You work-out a lot?" Terry knew what Dani like to do, but he thought it would add to the...atmosphere...around him.

"You could say that," Dani answered. While she loved yoga, she worked out in the gym when she had time, and got in some other physical activities when the opportunity popped up. "I'd say you do some working out in your spare time, too."

"Oh yeah, I have regimen that I keep to myself for the most part. Try to use the gym at odd hours when I can," said Terry. "And the occasional session in my quarters." He approached the turbolift and started to enter. "Watch your head, hon. I'll watch the other end." He carefully entered the lift car, but didn't turn around. Dani was still facing the doors.

The petite woman smiled as she watched the top half of her form. "Is the other end still intact?"

"Oh yeah," he said, looking to his left. "The other end is most certainly intact." He turned back to face the wall. "But just to check..." The big Squadron Commander tilted his head to the left and laid it down. "Yep. Intact. A bit on the squishy side, which is absolutely not a bad thing, but intact."

Dani giggled. "Squishy, huh? Maybe there are more squats in my future. We can't have things too squishy."

He liked hearing her giggle and, as a result chuckled. "Well, you can get in some more squats later," he said. The lift slowed and the doors opened. "Okay Terry's Angel, are we clear to exit?"

She made sure the coast was clear and nodded. "Yep, you're all clear, Commander Terry Bear." Hearing that, made her giggle again, knowing that if anyone else tried to refer to him as such would likely result into their turning into mud.

He started laughing. "That's awesome. Now all I need to do is keep that from the rest of the pilots and we'll be golden." He backed out of the turbolift and allowed enough room to turn around. His quarters were several doors down. "Pizza, wine, and you. Couldn't ask for a better start to the night."

"You do know you can have my company whenever you want it, don't you?" Dani asked. "Buy then again... we are together just about every second we aren't on duty."

"That we are. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love spending all of this time with you." He saw that his door was getting closer and decided to be a little...well.... "Hang on to the pizza, Dani McBouncy Blake." Then he took off at a slow jog, being careful not to jostle his blonde bombshell too much.

Dani couldn't help but burst out laughing at his antics. She tried to keep their pizza from bouncing around too much. "I love it when you get playful like this."

Terry slowed down when he reached his quarters. "Then you're gonna to love this." He turned sideways, holding her with his left arm, and pressed to panel to open the door. When he carried her in and the door closed, he reached his hand up and patted her backside. Then he walked his fingers down to the bend behind her knee and started lightly tickling her.

"Wha... noooo!" Dani wailed just before she started laughing. There wasn't anywhere for her to go, and squirming wasn't much of an option since she was still holding the pizza, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to take it.

Terry stopped briefly and turned so that Dani was over the little table in front of the couch. "Go ahead, drop it. I don't mind pulling toppings off."

With a grin, the young woman dropped the pizza onto the table and raised herself up a bit, then began to move her fingers over his ribs. She wasn't about to let him be the only one to get her. "This means war, you know."

"Uh oh." Terry started wiggling and trying to get away. But with holding her the way he was, it wasn't going to be easy. The large man started laughing. "Okay then, war it is." He started tickling her legs even more, between laughs.

Dani grinned and kept moving her fingers over his side, but stopped the second he went for her legs. She needed to get free somehow, otherwise this was going to be very one-sided. "No fair!" she laughed.

Terry started laughing. "No fair, huh! Once again, gonna love this." He leaned forward and gently tossed her on the couch. The bald man straddled her legs and went for her ribs. "Tickle, tickle, tickle. Ohh, ribs..."

The little woman squirmed beneath him and started laughing so hard her face started to turn red. She did what she could to free herself, but given his size, it was impossible. Even retaliation was impossible. Dani took a deep breath and laughed more, trying to pull his hands away.

Terry watched as her face turned red from all of the laughing and eased up. "Okay, okay, enough tickling for now. I'll stop." He pulled his hands up and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now what's the magic word to get me up?" he asked, smiling down at her.

Dani took a much needed breath and tried to calm her racing heart. She absolutely loved when he got into his playful moods. "Well... here's the thing about that. What if I don't want you to get up?" she asked, smiling up at him.

Terry chuckled a little and winked. He uncrossed his arms and leaned over, placing a hand on either side of Dani's head. The the muscled man lowered himself down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I'm not sure about you, but pizza isn't so bad cold."

"I don't mind cold pizza," she said after returning the kiss. "Now that we have that squared away, what should we do?"

Terry chuckled. "If you have to ask..." He leaned down again and kissed her again. And again. And again. But the fourth time, he lingered. It wasn't like he couldn't hold himself up, not with those arms. "Daniella, you're the sweetest woman on this ship. And I'm glad that you torpedoed me that day in the pool. Let's have some cold pizza later. Much later." Then he grinned.

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Liquid Latinum
1 oz Midori
1 oz Blue Curaco
1 oz Captain Morgan’s Spice Rum
1 oz Alize Red Passion
about 1 oz Orange Juice
about 1 oz Pineapple Juice
This is a layered drink so you want to put the ice in the glass first. Next, pour the Midori and Blue Curaco at the same time. The next layer is the Juice, pour both at the same time. Finally, pour the Spice Rum and Alize for the final layer and enjoy!